We recently connected with Christal Friedman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Christal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with something countless entrepreneurs have had to figure out on the fly – how have you dealt with the rise of remote work?

Covid made transitioning to a fully virtual setup necessary for many, including us. Technology took a while to catch up, but we found alternative ways to keep files, share information, and hold meetings once it did. Even with the world opening back up, my team still works solely remotely. Being 100% virtual has been a game-changer. As a parent to a child on the autism spectrum, I faced numerous challenges while juggling my 9-5 job. I often had to take time off for IEP meetings, therapy sessions, and unexpected moments that required my attention. Now, I can work, contribute to my household, show up for my clients, and be the mom and wife I love to be without the added stress of a traditional work setting.
My team benefits by working when they want and from where they want as long as we get the job done. The downside is that remote work requires commitment and a level of dedication not all of us possess. But it’s proven to be possible and advantageous for C. Marie.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a mom, wife, sister, caregiver, autism advocate, and everything else that comes with those hats, lol. I love my urban garden and dream of having a farm (we already have a small zoo at the house because my children get pets and then lose interest or leave them here with me). But for what I do…I’ve always taken care of others. I think that pushed me into my career in supporting roles and staying in the background. There’s just something about making others look good at what they do! Becoming a virtual assistant allowed me to stay in the background, in my comfort zone, but offer services and systems that make my clients look good. By that, I mean clients who missed emails, overlooked sending invoices and billing, or didn’t have time to create social media posts or captions or schedule appointments now text THANK YOU! These things happen in the background while they run their businesses instead of being bogged down by routine tasks. The proof comes from responses to emails they never knew we sent, payments from customers on automatic billing and who signed up for autopay, and reminders for meetings and events…they don’t forget anymore, lol. What sets us apart is we’re a small business too! As such, we share budget constraints, the need for automation and streamlining, and support. This is why we learn new systems and software, add a personable touch to our client’s customer experience (proven to impact customer retention and satisfaction), and decrease the oversight needed to get the job done. We thrive on feedback. Regular meetings or check-ins are a chance for constructive criticism and serve as an opportunity for our clients to talk through challenges. Of course, the industry has cheaper options, but cheaper isn’t always better. Some clients have come to us after hiring a cheaper vendor, and it just costs more to make the corrections and get things to our standard.
I pride myself on being reliable and consistent. Trust and confidentiality are major factors in what we do. Clients trust us with their livelihood, and nurturing that bond is what keeps us in business. This is why most of our new clients come from referrals.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Virtual doesn’t mean invisible! And hard work doesn’t always equal revenue. So, as I said, I love being the support, but being seen or acknowledged for what I do isn’t always comfortable. I tend to minimize my accomplishments. I read the books “No Matter What” by Lisa Nichols and “Successful Women Think Differently” by Valorie Burton, which changed my life. I provide virtual services, but sometimes people don’t trust what they can’t see. People can rely on brands before they even look at your services. I had to rebrand and put myself out there. I did a photoshoot with one of my clients, he’s a photographer. An amazing photographer. JPR Creates. I put out a social media campaign, re-introducing myself. I did a Comcast Rise interview this year. These are all things I would have never done and things that have pushed my business in the right direction. Virtual doesn’t mean invisible!

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Referrals, referrals, and referrals. As far as strategy is concerned, we provide high-quality and personalized services. We listen. We improve, and we grow with our clients. 95% of new calls and leads are someone saying they heard about our services or we came highly recommended. While social media gets some attention, our clients really are our best lead magnets. They’re walking and working proof of what we do! For our merch, it’s just been making people feel good with the affirmations.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cmarieservices.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c_marie_services/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cmarieservicesllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christal-friedman-cmarieservices/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CMarieServices

Image Credits
Wendell “Supreme” Shannon (Blue Wall pic, client and his work). JPR, Create (Photographer and client for all others except water bottle)